Rabin Says Arafat's 'Jihad' Remark Set Back Peace Effort

By CLYDE HABERMAN,

Published: May 20, 1994

JERICHO, West Bank, May 19—
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel said today that Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, had harmed the Middle East peace talks with a speech in which he seemed to call for a holy war to liberate Jerusalem for Muslims.

Mr. Rabin waved off Mr. Arafat's explanation that he was not calling for violence when he talked recently of a "jihad" for Jerusalem -- an Arabic word often interpreted as holy war -- but rather was speaking in a religious sense and urging a crusade for peace.

Through a spokesman, the Israeli leader said the Palestinian had provided "a far-fetched explanation of an unnecessary misstep, one that badly affects, and will badly affect in the future, the peace process with the Palestinians."

While there was no sign of a crisis in negotiations between Israel and Mr. Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization, Israeli officials were nonetheless rattled by the "jihad" dispute, for it reaffirmed their worst fears that the P.L.O. leader is not someone they can trust. And if that is the case, they acknowledge, they leave themselves vulnerable to opposition questions about why they are talking with him in the first place. Likud Seeks Halt to Talks

Indeed, the question was raised anew by the main opposition party, Likud, which called for an immediate suspension of Israeli-P.L.O. talks that are supposed to focus next on extending self-rule throughout the occupied territories now that it is established in Jericho and the Gaza Strip.

Israeli officials said that whatever their doubts about Mr. Arafat personally, the talks will go on. "The most important thing is how our agreement works on the ground, and not what he said or the other one said or other incidents here and there," said Oded Ben-Ami, a Rabin spokesman.

Nonetheless, even ardent supporters of territorial compromise by Israel for peace shook their heads today over the damage they believe had been caused by the furor.

"If Arafat wants to make do with being head man of the village of Jericho, he should continue with acts like this," cautioned Education Minister Amnon Rubinstein, a dovish member of the Rabin Cabinet.

"But if he wants to reach an historic peace between the Palestinians and the State of Israel," Mr. Rubinstein said, "he must get off his mistaken, stupid path and begin to talk like a human being." Arafat Charges 'Squeeze'

In Oslo on Wednesday, Mr. Arafat said his remarks had been misinterpeted -- purposefully so, he added, by critics who are "trying to squeeze me with false means."

The week before, addressing Muslims at a mosque in South Africa, where he had attended the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela, the P.L.O. leader said in English, "You have to come and to fight a jihad to liberate Jerusalem, your precious shrine." He added that Mr. Rabin had written a letter promising to negotiate the future of Jerusalem, which both Israel and the Palestinians claim as their capital.

A tape recording of his speech was played this week on Israel Radio, causing an uproar and touching off Government demands that Mr. Arafat explain himself. The United States, too, called the remarks "inconsistent" with Mr. Arafat's pledge last September to renounce violence.

In part, the dispute centers on the translation of the word "jihad." One meaning is "holy war," perhaps the most common one for Westerners and the one that many Israelis immediately assume when they hear it. Used in connection with Jerusalem, the word is especially inflammatory for them.

But "jihad" can be interpreted in several ways, including a struggle that is not violent but rather a strenuous effort to achieve a goal. 'My Jihad for Peace'

That is what he meant, Mr. Arafat said in Oslo, explaining that the context was "I will continue my jihad for peace."

With him, for a ceremony, was Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel, who pronounced himself satisfied with the explanation. Pursuing the peace talks was the paramount issue, and "all the rest does not count," Mr. Peres said.

But it counts for Mr. Rabin and other officials, unmistakably queasy about having thrown their lot in with the P.L.O. leader, who says he will come to Jericho in June.

"It's partly the inflammatory tone that he uses," said Barry Rubin, an Israeli university professor.

"It brings back memories of the way things were not so long ago -- and at a very critical moment," Professor Rubin said. "At this point, anything can become an issue because everyone is looking at credibility."

For Israelis, who in the last year have been asked by their leaders to stop thinking of Mr. Arafat as an arch-terrorist and accept him as a peace partner, the dispute does not come in a vacuum. Issue of Jerusalem

After a bombing by a Palestinian killed eight Israelis last month, the P.L.O. leader literally walked away from a question about whether he condemned the attack. His brief refusal in Cairo this month to sign part of the agreement with Israel further damaged his image among Israelis. And Mr. Rabin flatly denies the existence of a letter on Jerusalem. Besides, he notes, with or without a letter, Jerusalem's future is supposed to be negotiated within two years.

Acknowledging their dismay, some senior Israeli officials said they agree with an editorial today in the newspaper Davar, which wrote: "The gamble on Arafat was a mistake from the start. Arafat accumulated almost 30 years' experience ruling Fatah and the P.L.O. as an expert in survival but also in tricks that don't make it possible to believe him. Arafat hasn't made the necessary change to become a statesman."